Dutton, born in Philadelphia, began playing guitar at age 8. He wrote his first song by the time he was in the 9th grade and began playing harmonica in a wire rack. Dutton credits Bob Dylan and John Hammond Jr., as well as then-contemporary "old school" hip-hop sounds of Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, and Philadelphia's own Schooly D as influences.
Dutton, still in high school at Germantown Friends School, began playing solo on the streets of Philadelphia. After a year of college, he relocated to Boston, working as a fundraiser for Peace Action and playing wherever and whenever he could. One of his few indoor gigs at this time was a Boston bar called The Tam O'Shanter, where he met drummer Jeffrey "The Houseman" Clemens in January 1993. Dutton and Clemens began working as a duo, they were joined a few months later by bassist Jim "Jimi Jazz" Prescott and became the house band on Mondays at The Plough and Stars in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The name G. Love doesn't really have that much of a story to it. The 'G' stands for Good as said in many radio interviews. He said in an interview that the 'Love' was just there because it sounded right.
G. Love featured Jack Johnson on his 1999 LP Philadelphonic playing an early version of Jack Johnson's "Rodeo Clowns" when Jack was an unknown artist. Jack later featured the song on his 2003 LP On and On.
Known nowadays for his excellent live shows, he is often seen touring with Jack Johnson, who signed G. Love to his record label Brushfire Records. He has made appearances on the records of artists such as Slightly Stoopid and Donavon Frankenreiter.
Leaving the City
G. Love Lyrics
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All night long
She used to bang on the wall, babe
All night long
Now she gone
Oh couldn't carry on
Yes I'm a leaving the city tonight
All night long
That's the noise in the streets
Baby all night long
Now I'm gone
I couldn't carry on
Yes I'm a leaving the city tonight
Oh baby I'm gone
Leaving the city
Yes I'm leaving the city
Outta town today
My god little honey please
All night long
See used to hop all over me
Baby all night long
Well now shes gone
Mmm couldn't carry on
Yes, I'm leaving the city tonight
And today I'm sure
All night long
That's a little bit too long
Well I'm a pack my bags I'm gone
Yes where I'm going
What dangers I may face
You know I'd a leave this place
Oh I gotta get on get on get on down
Get on down
Well I've been hanging out for too long
Wastin' time
See I've been stickin' runnin' round
Flying circles all the time
Got's to get away
Might not be back no more
See I'm a leaving
Don't you know baby that I'm gone
Oh I'm a leaving
Yes I'm a leaving the city tonight
The singer in G. Love’s “Leaving the City” is someone who has had enough of the noise and chaos of city life. As the lyrics suggest, the singer has been driven to the point of frustration by the disruption caused by a neighbor who banged on the wall all night long. Interestingly, the singer characterizes the neighbor as “she,” perhaps to call attention to the fact that people tend to anthropomorphize the noise and chaos of city life, almost making it an entity in its own right. The singer finally declares that they are leaving the city, saying “where I’m going / what dangers I may face / you know I’d leave this place.” The urgency in the lyrics and the repetition of the refrain “Yes I’m leaving the city tonight” suggest that the singer has reached a breaking point and simply cannot take it anymore.
Line by Line Meaning
I know this guy
I am familiar with this person
All night long
Throughout the entire night
She used to bang on the wall, babe
She used to make loud noises by banging on the wall
Now she gone
She is no longer here
Oh couldn't carry on
Oh, I could not continue to live like this
Yes I'm a leaving the city tonight
I am leaving the city tonight
Oh where I'm from
Oh, the place I come from
That's the noise in the streets
That is the sound of the streets
Baby all night long
Dear, throughout the entire night
Now I'm gone
Now I have left
I couldn't carry on
I could not continue to live like this
Oh baby I'm gone
Oh dear, I have left
Leaving the city
Departing from the city
Yes I'm leaving the city
Yes, I am departing from the city
Outta town today
Leaving this town today
My god little honey please
My goodness, dear
See used to hop all over me
She used to move around a lot on me
Well now shes gone
Well, she is no longer here
Mmm couldn't carry on
Mmm, I could not continue to live like this
And today I'm sure
And today I am certain
That's a little bit too long
That's too long
Well I'm a pack my bags I'm gone
Well, I am going to pack my bags and leave
Yes where I'm going
Yes, the place I am going to
What dangers I may face
What dangers I may encounter
You know I'd a leave this place
You know I would leave this place
Oh I gotta get on get on get on down
Oh, I have to leave quickly
Well I've been hanging out for too long
Well, I have been staying here for too long
Wastin' time
Wasting my time
See I've been stickin' runnin' round
I have been staying here, constantly moving around
Flying circles all the time
Going in circles all the time
Got's to get away
I have to get away
Might not be back no more
I may not come back
See I'm a leaving
Because I am leaving
Don't you know baby that I'm gone
Do not you know, dear, that I have left
Oh I'm a leaving
Oh, I am leaving
Yes I'm a leaving the city tonight
Yes, I am departing from the city tonight
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GARRETT DUTTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind